What is at stake where these issues are concerned?
What do I agree with in the reading?
What do I not agree with?
What do I not understand, or need to know more about?
My Freshman Year
Pg. 1-40
Something that interested me was how much slag has changed over the years. The story says only 4 out of 200 words stayed the same over a 15 year time span (13). It is amazing how much slag changes and it made me think of the words that I use and how different they can be compaired to my friends.
I liked how Nathan, who was a professor the year before, admited how different the campus became once she was in the students prospective. Another thing was when Nathan went to a freshman event, she noticed that there was three main types of booths which were sororities/fraternities, religious organizations, and commercial services. An insight that everyone can learn from was how Nathan made friends. She knew that she could relate with the students over sports and it worked.
One issue that was involved was how students spend their time; study vs. party. Nathan found out how much time an average student spends studying vs free time. She was suprised to found how much time was spent studying but still how little time was spent in free time. I was surpised to learn how most college students have one, even two jobs. I don't think that I could personally handle a job ontop of all the school work I have to do already.
Nathan had to invertview students to find out information about their studying habbits. I feel that she could have ruined her cover of being a college freshman by asking students these types of quesions. If students find out that she is just doing research, then the students will mostlikely act differently around her.
I agreed on how Nathan proceeded with her research. "[She] opted for a more daily immersion, in which [she] actualy took courses, lived in the dorms, and encountered students as an older but fellow student" (5). I thought that this was the best way to find out what college students do and how they do it. She was able to mock her fellow peers to her best of her ability and understand why students act the way they do.
Something that I did not agree with was that although Nathan went to class and did the homework she "skipped the papers, tests and other evaluative measures" (3). Part of college is spending a ton of time studying and stressing out because of a paper or test due. If college students did not have to worry about tests like she did, then college would just be a bunch of people living together and hanging out. I also feel that since she was so much older than the students it is harder for her to get a true understanding on how students spend their time.
I don't really understand how she was able to get away with things. Nathan was able to drop all her classes but two, but how did the school let her stay living on campus? At Bloomsburg I believe that you must be taking 12 credits to stay living on campus. Another thing is that some students dropped their meal plans. Again, here at Bloomsburg, when you are living on campus you must have a meal plan.
Pg. 40-66
Something that Nathan noticed that really interested me was the observations of the RA’s and the lounges. She noticed that the RA’s had a hard time connecting with the students and could not get everyone together to do a community activity. I remember last year my CA could not get anyone together either. My hallway was very closed off to one another and I only knew 3 other students in my hall by the end of the year. Nathan also took note of the lounges. I have noticed something different. Nathan observed that most of the time lounges where “get away” spaces. People did not go in them to study or hang out that often. However, I see during the day and generally school nights, they are a place for studying and on the weekend nights they are a place for social gatherings. My friends and I either watch movies in the lounges or play board games all night.
Nathan made a good point after going to a freshman orientation; “What holds students together, really, is age, pop culture, a handful of (recent) historical events, and getting a degree” (42). Nathan had realized that for teenagers the word “community” had a completely different meaning than most adults would think. I think pop culture and historical events that happened over the years when we were growing up is what makes our specific generation. Even when talking to someone 3 years older or younger than you, they grew up differently watching different T.V. shows or listening to different music.
What issues are involved in this reading? Some issues that are involved with this reading are a lot about the types of friends you make versus diversity. Nathan took a lot of note on how white students (for the most part) only ate and hung out with other white students. She also noticed how nonwhite students generally did not eat in the dining halls. In college, friends are made on a convenience factor. I also believe that you make friends with people that are similar to yourself. It is a lot easier for somebody to make friends with someone who looks like you because you would think that they would act like you. This is not always the case for every student and nor is it a good excuse for why students do not have friends with students of another race but that is why I think groups are not racially mixed.
There are a lot of personal opinions that can be formed in this reading. For example whose fault is it that the nonwhite students generally do not eat in the dining halls?
p.g 67-89
There were a lot of things that interested me in this reading. I never thought about how we say “how is it going” but in reality we just mean “hi”. Although the exchange students did not like this, I do. It has become such a costume that I have a friend that when we are texting and he asks me “how are you?” and I reply saying “alright”, he normally questions me on why am I just “alright”. I find that annoying. Another thing that I found interesting was when the international students noticed that our culture builds on individualism and independence. I have always heard that our country is like that versus others like China that builds on teamwork. I have firsthand experience on this idea because I observed a first grade teacher (the same one I had for first and second) and I noticed on how independent she had her 6 and 7 year old students already.
This reading brings a lot of insights of what other cultures think of American students. Although I do not completely agree with everything that was said; most of it included how Americans are self-focused and not interested in other cultures.
Something that I agree with is what Beniko, a Japanese student, said. “If you don’t have a hobby in this country, it’s harder to meet people” (71). Having a common bond with people (like a sport or club) makes you get to know people and create friendships. Half of all of my close friends are all in marching band like me. A student also said something about partying. He noticed that American students drink to get drunk. I feel that is a stereotype but I do agree with what he said. He brought up the fact that you can just drink to socialize and hang out. I personally do not believe in drinking to get drunk.
An international student brought up the point that professors have learned to ignore band behavior in class. I feel like this depends on the class. In the large lecture classes, it is hard to discipline that many people. Most professors believe that it is the students’ choice to pay attention in class, if they don’t and fail a test because of it; it is the students’ fault.
On Ethnography
Pg. 1-26
Something that interested me was on page 7 and 8. It talked about the word "culture" and what people tend to think it means. It says that people think is is a noun rather than a verb. This paragraph made me realize that I think of culture as who people are and what they do. The book is trying to say that culture is not a thing fixed in boundariers. Culture is something you have and because of it, its what you do.
The main insight that this reading offers is all about ethnographers and what they do. I now know that ethnographers study cultures. In the reading it says that ethnographers like to observe classrooms. I thought that this was an interesting idea because children are the future.
One issue that the book talks about is the future and what is expected of it. "Elders see the children as continuing the ancient practive of storytelling and sand-drawing and therefore believe 'the tradition' remains" (16). This is not always the case. I think that children today are getting more interested in the future and what it brings to be worried about the past. We get caught in the "now" with all the new technology and the younger generation does not realize how important the past really is.
If children today are getting to caught up in the present and future, people can lose sense of where they came from and how they got there. We should appreciate what generations had to do to get us where we are today.
On page 12, the book talks about different kinds on intelligence. There are three main points: 1. obsercation and purposeful seeking out of experts as sources; 2. creation of one's own strategies in problem solving and; 3. persistence in self-assessment and goal-setting. I think that these three points are apart of learning and understanding new things which is apart of intelligence. You can't learn something without some sort of example. You will come accross problems that you will have to fix and come up with the best solution. Without a goal, there is nothing to acheive.
There was not anything that I overly did not agree with.
I am not sure how this text relates to college life.
27-47
This reading talked a lot about how to make a good observation. As an observer, you need to ask “whats happening” not “why” (35). I thought that was an interesting point. This reading will deffinitly help me when I do my observation for a public place for the CLUE project. I also liked the fact that the reading brought up the point ‘don’t ask what it is not’ (37). I think that is a good point. People often like to compare new things with the old. We often have the attitude of “if it’s not like this, then what good is it”. This is the attitude of not liking change. As a college student, we are going through a ton of change. Those who cannot adjust to it will have a hard time succeeding.
68-82
This reading was very helpful on how to observe a situation. It gave great tips on how to separate what you see versus what you think. It makes me think about how I observed lobbies of two different halls and while I wrote down, whom and how many people walked in and out, I also assumed where they were going based on how they were dressed. I realize now that I should not have done that. This reading also brings up the point that sometimes you go looking for the response that you want to hear. I think that I have also done that too. This reading has be very helpful towards our project.
What Johnny Should Read (Group 1)
What Johnny Should Read by Claire Andre and Manuel Velasquez was about E. D. Hirsch views on “Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know”. I do not agree with Hirsch views. He feels that because half of the 17 year olds asked cannot identify Stalin or Churchill, and ¾ do not know that the Civil War was fought between 1850 and 1900 that students are now cultural illiterates. Hirsch blames the schools for emphasizing “skills” and “child centered experiences” without teaching content. He took on the liberty to make up a 63-page list of geographic names, historical events, famous people, scientific terms, and patriotic lore that he believes it consists of important national culture.
The counter part of this argument is the only part I agree on in the article. Force feeding students information will not make them cultural literate. Literacy is the product of school and home and living in society. It is also brought up, who will decide what is important or not. Altogether I did not agree with Hirsch view about cultural literacy.
Claming an Education by Adrienne Rich
I thought that this reading was very feministic. However, once you get passed that it offers a lot of advice that both men and women can share. In the middle of the article, it mentions “taking responsibility toward yourselves” (609). I think that is a very good thing to learn. It is something that takes time, practice, and experience to acquire. Something that I did not like was when it brought up the fact that men brought up history. Is that really fair to say when women did not have the opportunity to write history? This article is very one sided and I did not enjoy that. Times are changing and women are now equals with men. Talking about how things were in the past is not a good way to describe how things are today with culture.
The Job Market: Is a College Degree Worth Less?
I thought it was really interesting that the article brought up the fact that unskilled students become degree holders. It also brought up how if everyone has a degree, what is so special about it anymore. Even though degrees are now feeling worthless, the tuition is rising and so is the unemployment rate. This article makes me wonder would it be easier to get a job without a degree because of natural talent and passion. However, everyone has the idea that you must have a degree to get a job so not many would be willing to try out my theory. That’s why I like the end of the article; “it’s what you have done during that degree to distinguish yourself.”
Should More People Skip College?
I find it interesting that only 7 out of 30 jobs require a degree. However, just because a degree is not required does not change the fact that the employer wants one. I as I was think that, the article then brings up that exact point; college gives additional knowledge that can benefit the employee. The article then went to talk about whether the money spent for college is worth it. Yes you can usually make more money with a college degree but then you are more in debt. I think it is worth it because you can’t find a job as easily without a college degree and like the article said employers would take a degree in “something irrelevant to the job…than nothing at all.”
Plan B: Skip College
I like how this article brought up vocational school. I spent half my day in a vocational-like school my senior year of high school for an education and computer class. This class gave me 3 education and 3 computer credits that Bloomsburg accepted. This class gave me a very good idea on what it was going to be like teaching and helped me confirm that I want to be a teacher. I think vocational schools are a very good idea. The article also brought up that college can help people grow. College not only gets us and education but it helps us grow up; learn who we are, and what we want out of life. None of the other articles brought that up.
The Animal School: A Fable
I think that this is a humorous way to talk about curriculums in school. It is about how schools make you work so hard on at least getting average on a subject that does not pertain to your needs. Because you are working so hard on the subjects that you don’t need, you end up lacking on the subjects that you do need and care about. I think that this can be true based on the person. I know that because I enjoy doing the subjects I’m good at, I will do those first and procrastinate on the others. Other people chose to work extra hard on the subjects that they are not good at to at least get average grades.
College Education and Technology
I think that this article was a little too extreme on saying that by 2020 all classes will be online. I don’t think that it could ever get to that point because not everyone can own a computer and pay for internet. I agree with the fact that one day children will not know what a cell phone is, but teens and adults in my generation know that a spin-dial phone is even though most of us might have never seen one before. I also agree with there being no textbooks. Already today there are electronic devices that can hold thousands of books and for a cheaper price too. I personally hate reading things on a computer screen so I personally hope that online texts books are a mandatory option.
"Honest College Ad" video
I really liked the point of “this is the most photogenic spot on campus” when I visited a college the website and brochures made it look like a very nice place to be. However when I visited there the campus looked untended and the town looked like it was falling apart. I also liked how it brought up the RA’s. I am doing my CLUE and EAR project on them and most of my findings tend to be true to what the video said. CA’s won’t stop drinking unless they actually see it or someone could harm themselves or others.
Life Is a Spiritual Struggle
I liked how spiritual this article was. I feel that it is very inspiring to take something that you love and enjoy to do and be able to use it in the classroom. It seems that Joseph Laycock gets a lot of inspiration and encouragement from his training. I think that him doing something so interesting and unordinary from most teachers, the students find an interest in him.
Admittance to a Better Life
I think that Michael Oatman got extremely lucky when his poem got famous. His story is not a very common thing. However, because it’s not common but obviously possible, this would be a good story to share with “at-risk” students. Oatman was able to get out of being on the streets and was able to go to college to better his life. This is something that high school students need to learn, they can make something out of themselves.
This I Believe
The story made me appreciate the things you learn from your parents and other family members. I liked how someone under 18 wrote this and how they already know how much their grandmother means to them. This author is very lucky to appreciate the things that their grandmother did for them. I also liked the introduction paragraph and all the questions it asks. It really gets you thinking before the article even starts.
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QUESTIONS:
My Freshman Year
Pg. 1-40
Pg. 40-66
p.g 67-89
On Ethnography
Pg. 1-26
27-47
68-82
What Johnny Should Read (Group 1)
What Johnny Should Read by Claire Andre and Manuel Velasquez was about E. D. Hirsch views on “Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know”. I do not agree with Hirsch views. He feels that because half of the 17 year olds asked cannot identify Stalin or Churchill, and ¾ do not know that the Civil War was fought between 1850 and 1900 that students are now cultural illiterates. Hirsch blames the schools for emphasizing “skills” and “child centered experiences” without teaching content. He took on the liberty to make up a 63-page list of geographic names, historical events, famous people, scientific terms, and patriotic lore that he believes it consists of important national culture.The counter part of this argument is the only part I agree on in the article. Force feeding students information will not make them cultural literate. Literacy is the product of school and home and living in society. It is also brought up, who will decide what is important or not. Altogether I did not agree with Hirsch view about cultural literacy.
Claming an Education by Adrienne Rich
I thought that this reading was very feministic. However, once you get passed that it offers a lot of advice that both men and women can share. In the middle of the article, it mentions “taking responsibility toward yourselves” (609). I think that is a very good thing to learn. It is something that takes time, practice, and experience to acquire. Something that I did not like was when it brought up the fact that men brought up history. Is that really fair to say when women did not have the opportunity to write history? This article is very one sided and I did not enjoy that. Times are changing and women are now equals with men. Talking about how things were in the past is not a good way to describe how things are today with culture.
The Job Market: Is a College Degree Worth Less?
I thought it was really interesting that the article brought up the fact that unskilled students become degree holders. It also brought up how if everyone has a degree, what is so special about it anymore. Even though degrees are now feeling worthless, the tuition is rising and so is the unemployment rate. This article makes me wonder would it be easier to get a job without a degree because of natural talent and passion. However, everyone has the idea that you must have a degree to get a job so not many would be willing to try out my theory. That’s why I like the end of the article; “it’s what you have done during that degree to distinguish yourself.”Should More People Skip College?
I find it interesting that only 7 out of 30 jobs require a degree. However, just because a degree is not required does not change the fact that the employer wants one. I as I was think that, the article then brings up that exact point; college gives additional knowledge that can benefit the employee. The article then went to talk about whether the money spent for college is worth it. Yes you can usually make more money with a college degree but then you are more in debt. I think it is worth it because you can’t find a job as easily without a college degree and like the article said employers would take a degree in “something irrelevant to the job…than nothing at all.”Plan B: Skip College
I like how this article brought up vocational school. I spent half my day in a vocational-like school my senior year of high school for an education and computer class. This class gave me 3 education and 3 computer credits that Bloomsburg accepted. This class gave me a very good idea on what it was going to be like teaching and helped me confirm that I want to be a teacher. I think vocational schools are a very good idea. The article also brought up that college can help people grow. College not only gets us and education but it helps us grow up; learn who we are, and what we want out of life. None of the other articles brought that up.The Animal School: A Fable
I think that this is a humorous way to talk about curriculums in school. It is about how schools make you work so hard on at least getting average on a subject that does not pertain to your needs. Because you are working so hard on the subjects that you don’t need, you end up lacking on the subjects that you do need and care about. I think that this can be true based on the person. I know that because I enjoy doing the subjects I’m good at, I will do those first and procrastinate on the others. Other people chose to work extra hard on the subjects that they are not good at to at least get average grades.College Education and Technology
I think that this article was a little too extreme on saying that by 2020 all classes will be online. I don’t think that it could ever get to that point because not everyone can own a computer and pay for internet. I agree with the fact that one day children will not know what a cell phone is, but teens and adults in my generation know that a spin-dial phone is even though most of us might have never seen one before. I also agree with there being no textbooks. Already today there are electronic devices that can hold thousands of books and for a cheaper price too. I personally hate reading things on a computer screen so I personally hope that online texts books are a mandatory option."Honest College Ad" video
I really liked the point of “this is the most photogenic spot on campus” when I visited a college the website and brochures made it look like a very nice place to be. However when I visited there the campus looked untended and the town looked like it was falling apart. I also liked how it brought up the RA’s. I am doing my CLUE and EAR project on them and most of my findings tend to be true to what the video said. CA’s won’t stop drinking unless they actually see it or someone could harm themselves or others.Life Is a Spiritual Struggle
I liked how spiritual this article was. I feel that it is very inspiring to take something that you love and enjoy to do and be able to use it in the classroom. It seems that Joseph Laycock gets a lot of inspiration and encouragement from his training. I think that him doing something so interesting and unordinary from most teachers, the students find an interest in him.Admittance to a Better Life
I think that Michael Oatman got extremely lucky when his poem got famous. His story is not a very common thing. However, because it’s not common but obviously possible, this would be a good story to share with “at-risk” students. Oatman was able to get out of being on the streets and was able to go to college to better his life. This is something that high school students need to learn, they can make something out of themselves.This I Believe
The story made me appreciate the things you learn from your parents and other family members. I liked how someone under 18 wrote this and how they already know how much their grandmother means to them. This author is very lucky to appreciate the things that their grandmother did for them. I also liked the introduction paragraph and all the questions it asks. It really gets you thinking before the article even starts.